François Roger de Gaignières (1642-1715) was born in Entrains-sur-Nohain (Nièvre). He was the son of Aimé de Gaignières, secretary to the Duke of Bellegarde, and Jaqueline Blanchefort. His family owned an important library, which aroused François' interest in history and collecting. In 1703 he presented to the monarch Louis XIV a project to protect monuments and, although it was never carried out, he was the precursor of the post of Inspector General of Historical Monuments. His passion for collecting led him to acquire a wide variety of pieces, including costumes, tapestries, coats of arms, portraits, etc.